Retired Gen. David Sejusa Tinyefuza, a former Ugandan military officer, has said Rwanda should not have withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Over the weekend, the Rwandan government announced its departure from the bloc, accusing it of being “used by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with support from some member states.”
Rwanda claimed it was denied leadership of the organization despite its turn through the usual rotational system—and that the process had been manipulated, reportedly with Burundi’s support.
In an X post, Gen. Sejusa stated:
“Rwanda wants to leave ECCAS? Because it was denied leadership, and it was supposed to… My view is different. Stay in it! Remain there and try to make changes from the inside. Do not pull out of an African union—even one led by your enemies; don’t quit.”
He made these comments as Rwanda emphasized that this was not the first time ECCAS had been abused by the DRC in its diplomatic disputes.
In 2023, President Paul Kagame wrote to AU Commission Chair Azali Assoumani to express concern after Rwanda was excluded from a CEEAC summit held in Kinshasa, following a summons from President Félix Tshisekedi of Congo.
